They Were Expendable (1945)
They Were Expendable Photos
Movie Info
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Cast
as Lt. John Brickley
as Lt. (J.G.) 'Rusty' Ryan
as Lt. Sandy Davyss
as 'Boats' Mulcahey C.B.M.
as Gen. Martin
as Ens. Snake Gardner
as Ens. Andy Andrews
as Maj. James Morton
as Seaman Jones
as Lt. J.G. `Shorty' Long
as Ens. George Cross
as Ens. `Lefty' Tony Aiken
as `Slug' Mahan
as `Cookie' Squarehead Larsen
as Benny Lacoco, Steward
as `Doc'
as Benny Lacoco, Steward
as Adm. Blackwell
as Lt. Elder Tompkins
as Ens. Brown
as Capt. Ohio Carter
as Gen. Douglas MacArthur
as Dad Knowland
as Army Doctor at Corregidor
as Gardner's Girl Friend
as Boat Crew Member
as Lt. Colonel
as Boat Crew Member
as Boat Crew Member
as Boat Crew Member
as Boat Crew Member
as Boat Crew Member
as Boat Crew Member
as Boat Crew Member
as Boat Crew Member
as Boat Crew Member
as Boat Crew Member
as Boat Crew Member
as Boat Crew Member
as Boat Crew Member
as Boat Crew Member
as Boat Crew Member
as Slim
as Sammy
as Gunner
as Navy Officer
as Navy Officer
as Navy Officer
as Bartender at Silver Dollar
as Marine Orderly
as Army Orderly
as Filipino Girl Singer
as Bartender at Manila Hotel
as Hotel manager
as Commander
as Navy Captain
as Bartender's Children
as Navy Doctor
as Marine Major
as Lt. Colonel
as Naval Air Captain
as Sub Commander
as Nurse
as Nurse
as Personnel in Admiral's Office
as Personnel in Admiral's Office
as Personnel in Admiral's Office
as Personnel in Admiral's Office
as Personnel in Admiral's Office
as Personnel in Admiral's Office
as Personnel in Admiral's Office
as Personnel in Admiral's Office
as Personnel in Admiral's Office
as Personnel in Admiral's Office
as Personnel in Admiral's Office
as Personnel in Admiral's Office
as Personnel in Admiral's Office
as Personnel in Admiral's Office
as Personnel in Admiral's Office
as Personnel in Admiral's Office
as Officers' Wife
as Personnel in Admiral's Office
as Personnel in Admiral's Office
as Personnel in Admiral's Office
as Personnel in Admiral's Office
as Personnel in Admiral's Office
as Personnel in Admiral's Office
as Personnel in Admiral's Office
as Officer's Wife
as Personnel in Admiral's Office
as Priest
as Personnel in Admiral's Office
as Personnel in Admiral's Office
as Personnel in Admiral's Office
as Personnel in Admiral's Office
as Personnel in Admiral's Office
as Personnel in Admiral's Office
as Personnel in Admiral's Office
as Jeep Driver
as Bartender's Wife
as Bartender at Silver Dollar
as Bartender's Child
as Boat crewman
as Bartender's Child
as Bartender's Child
as Bartender's Child
as Filipino Orderly
as Filipino Schoolteacher
as Mayor of Cebu
as Mate
as Filipino Boy
as Filipino Boy
as Bartender
as Captain of Airport
as Sgt. Smith
as Lt. James
as Lost Nurse
as Pilot
as Officers at Airport
as Officers at Airport
as Officers at Airport
as Officers at Airport
as Officers at Airport
as Officers at Airport
as Officers at Airport
as Officers at Airport
as Officers at Airport
as Officers at Airport
as Officers at Airport
as Officers at Airport
as Officers at Airport
as Wounded Officer at Airport
as Officer
Critic Reviews for They Were Expendable
All Critics (11) | Top Critics (1) | Fresh (10) | Rotten (1) | DVD (1)
The human element triumphs in almost every foot of They Were Expendable.
They Were Expendable was the first time [Ford] would loose the weight of his experiences on a general audience.
The film moves along curiously and cautiously, prideful of the crews of the PT boats but also aware that each victory was achieved at a great cost and that sacrifices would have to continue to be made as the war trudged along.
The real star of the film is the gorgeous, luminous, mostly outdoor black-and-white cinematography.
The most unfortunate thing about John Ford's excellent, elegiac war film, with a strong turn from John Wayne, was its release date, December 1945, since the war was over.
Surprisingly rich film is one of the best war films ever made.
Audience Reviews for They Were Expendable
Really not that exciting.
Super Reviewer
Entertaining film about PT boats and how they were used in the first months of WWII. John Ford made this film during the last days of the war and he added every detail of realism he could. The action scenes are great and really intense. There is hardly any rear projection and shot with real backgrounds, explosions, and alot of intensity. For some reason most of the night scenes are shot real dark. The night raids are shot day for night, but the scenes between actors is just plain dark. It works, but it is still strange. It's also strange that John Wayne is second banana in this film, but he excels in the role. There is a small romance between Wayne and the beautiful Donna Reed that works really well and doesn't get in the way of the story.
Super Reviewer
Another Wayne classis if you like that sort of stuff.....and I do.
Super Reviewer
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